Royals: Looking back on the 2015 World Series, Game 1

After a disappointing end in 2014, the Kansas City Royals looked to get a leg up on the New York Mets for the 2015 World Series.

Major players for New York in 2015 included first baseman Lucas Duda (Royals fans will remember his two runs with the team recently) who clubbed 27 home runs, right fielder Curtis Granderson who hit his way to a .259/.364/.457 slash, 23-year-old Wilmer Flores who smacked 16 dingers while plugging the shortstop position, and David Wright who battled injuries most of the year but brought a spark back to the team when he returned in August and produced a 126 OPS+ in just under 200 plate appearances.

The real lifeblood of the team rested with the pitching. Led by stars such as Jacob deGrom who tied for team lead in wins with 14, produced a WHIP of 0.98 and struck out 9.7 hitters per nine innings, Matt Harvey who was 13-8 with a 1.02 WHIP and 8.9 SO/9, Noah Syndergaard whose ERA+ of 117 was behind only deGrom and Harvey for starters, and Jeurys Familia who nailed down 43 saves with a 1.85 ERA and 207 ERA+.

Also contributing where Bartolo Colon, who at the young age of 42 posted 14 wins in 31 starts Jon Niese who provided quality innings over 29 games started.

The Mets had a great season finishing 90-72 and winning the National League East title comfortably. They beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series three games to two and then swept the Chicago Cubs in four straight games to advance. That gave New York a five-day layoff, two more than the Kansas City Royals, before starting the World Series.

Taking the mound for the Mets was the “Dark Knight” Harvey. He won both of his starts in the playoffs inducing 16 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings of work. The Kansas City Royals would counter with Edinson Volquez who had a similar record at 13-9 but not as impressive Sabermetrics as Harvey and struggled in three prior playoff starts giving up 12 walks, 10 hits, and eight earned runs in just 17 2/3 frames.

Let us take a look at how Game 1 played out in three segments of the contest.

I said wow! I have a chance to make this,” Escobar said. “That’s nice. That’s a lot of fun right there.” Alcides Escobar – USA Today

Volquez answered the first round in fine form retiring the side in order. Granderson flew out to left, Wright fouled out to right and Daniel Murphy went down swinging. Then the Kansas City Royals came up and the stadium was rocking after the first at-bat.

We know how Alcides Escobar was not one to take pitches and he took advantage of a first-pitch fastball to drill a ball that should have been caught by Yonenis Cespedes but took a ricochet away from the outfielders and allowed the thrilling start to the Royals home half of the first. This was a feat that had not been accomplished since 1929.

Ben Zobrist and Lorenzo Cain were then retired by Cespedes and following an Eric Hosmer walk, Kendrys Morales grounded out to first ending the inning. Volquez shut down the Mets 1-2-3 again in the second. Harvey struggled in the Kansas City Royals half of the inning allowing a single to Salvador Perez and a walk to Alex Gordon but managed to escape shutting down Alex Rios and Escobar without a run crossing the plate.

Volquez retired the first two batters in the third making that eight straight to begin the game, however, he then plunked Kelly Johnson and walked Granderson before getting Wright to strike out looking. Harvey cruised through the third setting down Zobrist, Cain, and Hosmer in order.

The second time through the lineup for the Mets allowed them to get to Volquez as Murphy, Duda and Travis d’Arnaud all singled allowing one runner to cross the plate and tie the game. Volquez was able to strand two Mets to end the visitors half of the inning. Harvey once again went 1-2-3 against Kansas City Royals and after nearly half the game has gone by we are tied at one.

The Kansas City Royals get plenty of opportunities but can they take advantage and send the fans home happy or will the New York Mets squeak out a win?

Typically in a closer’s role, Wade Davis is summoned to pitch the top of the tenth inning.  What a terrific half-inning it is as he strikes out the side.  Normally a starter, Niese pitches to the Royals in the bottom of the frame gets a 1-2-3 outing with two strikeouts.

Ryad Madson takes over in the 11th is able to work around a single to Lagares and walk to Granderson.  Niese stays in the game and allows a harmless two-out single to Perez before striking out Gordon.

The Kansas City Royals’ uber-pitcher Chris Young is now on the mound and his ability to eat up multiple innings will be helpful if needed.  Young summons his inner Wade Davis and strikes out the side.

Another starter who can gobble up innings (and carbohydrates) is Colon and the Mets ask him to keep the Royals in check while going multiple frames.  A leadoff single from Orlando, a one-out intentional walk to Zobrist and a two-out intentional walk to Hosmer loads the bases for Jarrod Dyson.  However, a flyout to center ends the 12th.

Young allows a two-out walk to Flores but gets Kirk Nieuwenhuis to foul out to Moustakas.  Colon again is playing fire giving up a single to “Moose” but no Kansas City hitter is able to bring him around to score.

Now in the 14th, Young is still cruising and sits down Granderson, Wright, and Murphy in order.  Colon continues his streak of allowing a leadoff baserunner, however, this was not his doing as an error by Wright puts Escobar on.  Zobrist then singles to right field and there are runners on the corners with no outs.  Intentionally walking Cain to get a force at any base, Hosmer is in the hot seat with bases loaded.

Five hours and 8 minutes after it started, and nearly that long ago since Escobar pulled off a feat that had not occurred in over 80 years, Hosmer hits a ball deep enough to right that allows Escobar to score the winning run.

A night that started off with a band and then looked like it was over for the Kansas City Royals, ends in fireworks and crucial Game 1 victory.